บท 2: The Magic Knight Entrance Exam 2
The Golden Dawn captain, William Vangeance, cast a calm gaze over the assembled candidates. "Well, without further delay, let's begin the exams," he announced, his voice as gentle as it was commanding. He then glanced toward Zoro, who was seated beside Yami, casually leaning back with his arms crossed, watching the proceedings with mild interest.
The crowd slowly recovered from the shock of Zoro's entrance, their nerves settling as the trial finally began. Around the field, candidates mounted their broomsticks, preparing to showcase their skill in flying. For some, it was second nature; they smoothly lifted off into the air, exuding a sense of grace and ease. Others struggled, wobbling unsteadily, or managing only to hover a few inches before sinking back down, expressions of frustration on their faces.
Captain Vangeance watched the scene with a critical eye. "By observing how a mage flies on a broomstick, one can get a basic grasp of their potential," he murmured, his gaze settling on a young man with calm confidence, effortlessly hovering mid-air. The young man's sharp gaze was fixed ahead, his dark cloak billowing slightly around him as he stood, perfectly balanced on his broomstick. It was Yuno.
"This year, it appears we have a few good candidates," Vangeance noted approvingly.
A murmur rippled through the crowd as more candidates noticed Yuno.
"Look at him," a spectator whispered. "He's got perfect control! I bet he's going to be something special."
"He's really something," another remarked. "The genius chosen by the four-leaf, huh?"
But not everyone was finding the broom test easy. At the back of the field, Asta struggled desperately to get his broom to rise even an inch. He jumped, grunted, and kicked at it, but the broom lay stubbornly on the ground, refusing to budge.
Captain Fuegoleon Vermillion, who had been observing from a distance, raised an eyebrow, his expression slightly puzzled. "What's going on?" he muttered, his gaze fixed on Asta. "Even with minimal magic power, one should be able to float at least a little. How is he…?"
Across the crowd, some of the more confident candidates snickered, whispering among themselves.
"That runt can't even get off the ground," one chuckled, nudging his friend.
"What a joke," another sneered, smirking. "He's totally not making the cut."
"Why is he even here?" someone else laughed. The mockery echoed in the air, and Asta's face flushed, his jaw clenching as he ignored the laughter and continued trying.
A voice suddenly rang out, filled with amusement. "Har har! You're a funny guy!" Asta looked up to see a young man approaching, a wide grin plastered across his face. He had light brown hair styled in a carefree manner, and his expression was one of smug amusement.
The young man extended his hand in a casual greeting, giving a slight wink as he introduced himself. "Name's Sekke. Nice to meet ya," he said, his tone dripping with a feigned friendliness that barely concealed his smugness.
"Uh, hey, I'm Asta," Asta replied, still struggling with his broom but reaching out to shake Sekke's hand, his expression determined despite his struggles.
Sekke smirked, effortlessly mounting his broom and hovering a few feet above the ground, making a show of his easy control. "This is easy! Just relax and let go," he said, putting on an exaggerated air of helpfulness as he floated a bit higher, obviously trying to impress the other candidates.
"Whoa, that's pretty amazing," Asta admitted, staring at Sekke's effortless control. "Darn it! If he can do it, so can I!" He returned to his broom with renewed energy, jumping and pulling with everything he had.
Above, Sekke watched him with a smirk, an arrogant gleam in his eye as he thought to himself, 'Pwah ha ha! Perfect. I'll look a whole lot better compared to a pathetic bottom-dweller like you.'
The other captains observed the scene with varying reactions. Yami let out a low chuckle, nudging Zoro with his elbow. "Looks like the kid's got some guts, even if he's struggling."
"Guts are good," Zoro agreed, watching Asta's antics with mild interest. "Let's see if he's got more than just that."
The exams moved forward, testing each candidate's skills in various aspects of magic. Candidates unleashed their powers in the magic attack test, precisely aimed at targets in the shooting trial, and demonstrated control in the magic control exam. Throughout it all, Sekke clung close to Asta, using every chance to boast and show off.
Finally, Captain William Vangeance addressed the group again, his calm voice resonating through the crowd. "Now we move on to the final test," he began, pausing to let the significance sink in. "In this exam, you will engage in actual combat. Each of you will pair up with another candidate and face them in a one-on-one match."
The tension among the examinees rose as they processed the challenge.
"You may use your grimoire," Vangeance continued. "I expect each of you has mastered at least one or two offensive spells by now. Remember, the primary duty of the Magic Knights is to engage in battle. Feel free to show us what you're capable of."
In the crowd, Asta's expression turned dejected as he thought to himself, "Shoot…so far all I've done in these exams is yell. Who would even want to fight me? I don't have any magic powers…"
Suddenly, Sekke grinned, putting an arm around Asta's shoulders in an exaggerated display of "friendliness." "Asta, you can be my opponent," he declared, his voice dripping with fake generosity.
Asta's face lit up, his eyes watering with gratitude. "Sekke! You're willing to fight against me?"
Sekke merely smirked, a glint of smugness in his eyes. The match rules were then laid out by Vangeance: a competitor must give up or be unable to fight for the match to end. Healing mages were on standby to ensure safety, encouraging candidates to fight without hesitation.
The crowd buzzed with excitement as the first pair was announced: Sekke vs. Asta.
Asta beamed, raising his fists in an enthusiastic stance. "Let's put our ambitions on the line and fight fair and square, with no reservations!"
Sekke's facade cracked, and his true nature emerged as he gave Asta a sneer. "You really are an idiot, aren't you?" he hissed, eyes narrowing. "You're just a filthy little rat who doesn't belong here. Once I'm in the Magic Knights, I'll be living the high life. You? You can go back to that pathetic dump you crawled out of."
Asta's face fell slightly, but his resolve quickly hardened.
"Begin!" Vangeance called.
Sekke wasted no time. "Bronze Creation Magic: Sekke Magnum Cannonball!" His grimoire floated in front of him, its pages glowing as he activated his spell. A translucent, dome-shaped barrier encased him, lined with four bronze cannons that extended outward, each cannon gleaming with power.
Around the arena, several Magic Knight captains nodded with mild interest, acknowledging the power of Sekke's spell.
"That's quite some magic for an examinee," Finral murmured, impressed.
In the stands, Yami was unfazed. He simply raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a bemused grin. "Looks flashy, but I've seen plenty of overconfident types crash and burn," he muttered, glancing toward Zoro, who sat next to him.
Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Sekke's magic take form. His expression was unreadable, though a hint of annoyance flickered across his face. "A shield and cannons? That's it?" he grunted, unimpressed. "Seems like all talk to me."
In the center of the field, Sekke chuckled, his confidence building as he basked in the attention. "Don't hold back!" he shouted arrogantly from within his dome. "I'm ready for ya!"
"Got it!" Asta replied with determined eyes, bracing himself in a low stance.
Then, without warning, Asta shot forward with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant. His movement was so fast that the onlookers could barely track him.
"What the—? Is he using a movement-boosting spell?" Vangeance thought, momentarily surprised.
Yami smirked, shaking his head. "Nah, that's just his natural strength. Kid's got physical power most mages would kill for."
In the crowd, Zoro leaned forward, his attention sharpening as he noticed something unexpected—Asta was wielding a massive sword. A slight grin spread across Zoro's face. "A swordsman, huh? Maybe this kid's got more potential than I thought," he thought, the hint of admiration in his eyes barely visible.
Sekke barely had time to react as Asta's massive sword came crashing down toward him. His confident smirk twisted into an expression of pure shock.
"Huh?!" Sekke gasped, but it was too late.
The heavy blade struck with overwhelming force, shattering his bronze dome and sending him flying across the arena. Sekke hit the ground, knocked out cold, his once-boastful expression now replaced by utter defeat.
The crowd fell silent, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. Gasps and whispers broke the silence as the spectators processed what had just happened.
"Did…did that kid just beat Sekke in one hit?"
"He doesn't even have any magic! How did he do that?"
The disbelief rippled through the crowd, but their sneers and laughter from before had all but vanished. They couldn't deny what they had witnessed.
In the stands, Zoro let out a loud, boisterous laugh, his hand clutching his stomach as he watched Asta with newfound amusement. "HAHAHAHA! YOU ARE A FUNNY KID!" he roared, his laughter echoing across the field. His grin widened as he pointed at Asta. "No magic, and yet you took that guy down with one swing. Now that's the kind of fighting spirit I like to see!"
Asta, oblivious to the surprise he had caused, raised his sword in determination, his voice filled with unshakable resolve. "I'm not here just to join the Magic Knights and mess around. I'm here to work my butt off and become the Wizard King!"
A few in the crowd scoffed, unable to comprehend his ambition.
"Who does he think he is?"
"He's nothing but a kid with no magic!"
"Just…what is up with that guy?" someone murmured, a mixture of awe and disbelief in their voice.
As the final matches wrapped up, Zoro couldn't hide his boredom, his mind drifting to thoughts of sake. The repetitive show of flashy but predictable spells barely caught his interest. Only one performance—the boy with the rare four-leaf grimoire—held his attention for a brief moment before his disinterest returned. "Flashy but nothing special," he muttered to himself, yawning, though Yuno's calm focus had intrigued him slightly.
Finally, Captain William Vangeance stood, his voice commanding attention as he announced the next phase. "And that marks the end of the examination. Each examinee will now come forward when their number is called. If a captain wishes to recruit you, they'll raise their hand. You'll then have the choice to accept or decline the offer. If multiple captains express interest, the decision is yours. But remember—if no one raises their hand, you will not join the Magic Knights."
The hall was filled with quiet tension as Vangeance called the first number, and one by one, examinees stepped forward. Some left with pride, some with disappointment, but every selection made the audience murmur and whisper, commenting on each candidate's abilities—or lack thereof.
When it was Yuno's turn, all eyes focused sharply on him. The captains, one by one, raised their hands, each of them recognizing the raw potential of the boy with the four-leaf grimoire. Yuno's calm, confident demeanor never wavered as he stood before them. Without hesitation, he chose Golden Dawn, sparking cheers and murmurs from the crowd.
"Next up is him," Yami muttered with a smirk, glancing at Zoro, who was staring intently at Asta. He'd sensed the spiky-haired boy's unyielding resolve from the beginning, and it had been enough to pique his interest.
"You want me to take this kid into our squad?" Yami asked, half-smiling.
"No," Zoro replied, standing up with a firm expression. "I'll do it myself."
Meanwhile, Asta stepped forward, his eyes shut tight with nerves. As he waited, the silence in the hall became oppressive. He could feel the crowd's judging eyes, the subtle scoffs and murmurs of disbelief from around him.
The silence stretched, heavy and endless. No hands went up.
Asta's heart sank, but he tried to keep his composure, though his hands trembled slightly. The crowd began to whisper, some openly sneering.
"Did he really think he'd get picked?"
"A fool with no magic? What a waste of time."
The doubt and derision in their voices stung, but Asta refused to let it show.
Then, cutting through the air like a blade, came Zoro's cold voice. "I'm not surprised."
The crowd turned, surprised to see Zoro slowly rising to his feet, his eyes sharp and piercing as they locked onto Asta. He stood tall, his posture radiating authority and an almost feral confidence that made those nearby tense up.
"No matter how high your combat skills are," Zoro continued, his voice calm but laced with an intimidating edge, "if it's based on suspicious powers, no one will want a part of it."
"Zoro-san…" Finral whispered, nervous, sensing the intensity of Zoro's aura.
"In the end," Zoro declared, his gaze unwavering, "the most important thing about a Magic Knight is their magic power." Shadows fell across his face as he allowed a faint, dark smile to emerge. Then, with a mere thought, Zoro unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, filling the room with an oppressive, powerful energy that seemed to vibrate through everyone present. Even captains could feel the weight of it, though they managed to withstand it. However, some of the candidates began to falter, their knees buckling as the force washed over them.
Asta's eyes widened, beads of sweat forming as he struggled to keep himself upright. He felt as if an invisible hand were pressing down on him, forcing him to his knees. Looking up, he saw Zoro's silhouette through the red haze of Haki, his form towering and terrifying, like a mountain that couldn't be moved.
With a low voice that held a faint edge of menace, Zoro addressed him directly. "No one wants you because you have no magical powers. This is the harsh reality."
Asta's heart pounded, his hands shaking slightly. He felt trapped, small under Zoro's gaze, as if the ground itself were holding him in place. But somewhere deep within, his own resolve ignited, a stubborn flame that refused to be extinguished. Clenching his fists, Asta lifted his head, meeting Zoro's cold gaze with fiery determination.
"Even if I can't join the Magic Knights today," Asta said, his voice trembling but unbreakable, "no matter how many times I fall… no matter what anyone says… one day, I will become the Wizard King!"
The crowd erupted with mocking laughter.
"He's delusional!"
"What a dumb dream for someone with zero magic."
"Stupid country bumpkin! Can't he see it's hopeless?"
But in the midst of it all, Zoro's expression shifted. The coldness in his eyes softened, and then, unexpectedly, he threw back his head and let out a deep, booming laugh.
"BWAHAHAHAHA! You're an interesting kid."
Yami, standing beside him, chuckled, recognizing that glint in Zoro's eye. He knew Zoro had made his decision.
"Hey, Yami," Zoro said with a grin, turning back to his captain, "this kid is joining the Black Bulls."
Yami raised a brow, nodding approvingly, a hint of pride in his voice. "Figured you'd say that."
Zoro looked back at Asta, his grin widening, but there was a flicker of genuine respect in his eyes. "I'll train you myself, kid," he said, his voice firm. "But be ready to go through hell in the process."
Asta's eyes sparkled with awe and determination. His heart, which had been sinking moments before, now soared with a newfound fire. He clenched his fists, practically vibrating with excitement.
"YES, SIR!" Asta yelled, his voice ringing out loud and clear.
"Good," Zoro replied, his grin growing even wider. Without a second thought, he reached out, grabbing Asta by the head and effortlessly lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. "Come on, we're heading to the base."
With Asta dangling in his grasp, Zoro began walking toward the exit.
"Hey, wait!" Yami called out, chuckling as he watched them go. "You'll get lost again if you go alone. Take someone with you!"
But Zoro was already gone, Asta in tow, leaving the hall buzzing with astonishment. The captains exchanged knowing glances, some shaking their heads in resignation. The crowd remained in stunned silence, processing what had just happened.
"Did that really happen…?"
"That kid… he's joining the Black Bulls?"
"He might actually… No, that's crazy…"
Some of them whispered to one another, still trying to comprehend how a boy with no magic power could have caught the interest of one of the strongest men in the room. But for Asta, everything was falling into place. He looked up at Zoro, feeling the weight of his new journey beginning.
"One day," Asta murmured, more to himself than to anyone else, "I will prove them all wrong. I will become the Wizard King."
And with that, Zoro marched out of the hall.
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